News

Water Meter Upgrade Project

Post Date:January 12, 2018 4:23 p.m.

The City of Davis will be upgrading water meters in the Davis service area beginning in early 2018. This step toward a more modernized water metering system will help our community better manage our water resources.

“The water meter upgrade project will modernize City infrastructure and allow for real-time monitoring of water usage by our customers aiding leak detection and water conservation efforts”, said Mayor Robb Davis.

The current water meters have reached the end of their useful life and require replacement. The upgrades will include exchanging the current water meters for new meters with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI). AMI is a low-powered communication device that transmits hourly water usage information over a secure network. This will allow residents and businesses to see how much water they are using on a daily and hourly basis.

The installations will be done in phases and are anticipated to be completed within the next six months. Water customers will receive notification via a letter, followed by a reminder postcard one to two weeks prior to the installation. After the new meter is installed, a door hanger will be left at the property, which explains the procedure that took place and communicates any further action(s) needed by the customer if a meter was unable to be exchanged. Instructions are also provided for the homeowner to flush the water line prior to use.

After the new AMI meters are installed, water customers will have the option to register for the City’s new online water use portal, AquaHawk. The customer portal will help residents and businesses better understand how and when water is used in the home and allow for customers to set their own usage alerts. Please visit the City’s Water Meter Upgrade Project webpage (CityofDavis.org/WaterMeterUpgradeProject) for updates on the customer water use portal availability and other information.

The City’s contractor, Professional Meters Inc. (PMI), will be installing the new water meters. Customers do not have to be at home for the replacement to occur, but there will be an interruption of water service for approximately thirty minutes while the water meter is being replaced. The City asks that customers provide easy access to their water meters by making sure the meters are not blocked by bushes, vines, equipment, or other materials that would prevent PMI personnel from replacing the meter. Meter boxes are typically located in the driveway or near the sidewalk. Customers with a meter behind a locked gate or a meter that is otherwise inaccessible should call PMI at 1-866-965-0657 to schedule an appointment for the new meter installation.

All installers will be carrying either a photo identification badge from PMI or City identification. In addition, PMI installers will have easily identifiable uniforms and their white trucks will have a painted logo. If an installer cannot show you an identification badge, or if you have a concern about that person’s identification, please call the PMI call center at 1-866-965-0657 or the City of Davis at (530) 757-5686.